New Year's Day had no religious significance, it's just another day on the calender. It's a new year, filled with promises and resolutions to be fulfilled. Resolutions in which we all know that most will not last. Statistic brain says that losing weight is the number one resolution that Americans make, statistics also say that it is the number one commonly broken new years resolution. Many resolutions are forgotten and broken, I'm sure you yourself can also name a few that you haven't been able to fulfill as a year ends or even the month of January ends. The common American resolutions are not typically spiritually aimed.
The problem with resolutions
Much of the world looks at New Years Day and thinks of the new "beginnings" it can bring and its promises, the renewal, change, and some corrections to be made, in hopes to lead a new, "better life". We make promises to our selves and break them from time to time. The answer to the problem of broken promises and all these unkept physical promises isn't to try harder. The answer is looking to our great promise keeping God, who always keeps his word.
God keeps His promises
God makes promises to his people and he always keeps them. God's biggest promise to his people was a promised savior. A savior would be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities (our sins), who would bring peace, and by his wounds healing. Isaiah 53:5 This promise was fulfilled in Jesus.
Newness of life
The bible is filled with its own resolutions. When we are baptized we are given a newness of life. Romans 6:4 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Once we receive that "newness of life" through baptism, we are resolved to live it for God. This should become much more than a resolution, it should become your priority as a Christian.We are to "lay aside" our old ways as a Christian. James 1:21, "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls".
So what is your goal for 2014?
Here's a suggestion. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Paul resolves to let nothing get in the way of telling people about Jesus. This would be an excellent spiritually fitted New Year's resolution. Tell everyone you know, your friends, your family, neighbors, anyone who will listen about Jesus. Our soul, along with theirs is at stake! This world is not our home and we are only here for such a short time compared to eternity. Don't let the treasures and lusts of the world block your pathway of getting to Heaven some great day. Do whatever you need to do to tell people that Jesus is the promised one of God, and that he died to save us from the punishment we deserve.
Solution to new year's resolutions
Let's make a great effort this year to make Gods plans our plans.
Here's some ideas..
- Transform to be more like Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:18
- Serve one another in love. Galatians 5:1
- Humbly & Sincerely praise the Lord. Psalm 71:14, Psalm 89:1
- Look forward to going to every worship service. Hebrews 10:25, Psalm 26:8, Psalm 27:4
- Love your brothers & sisters. Romans 12:10, Hebrews 13:1, 1 Peter 1:22
- Diligent in bible study. Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Peter 3:15
- Give gladly to the Lord without grudging or stinginess. Deuteronomy 15: 7-10, 2 Corinthians 9:7
- Pray often. Mark 14:38, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18
I'm not saying it's wrong to want to get fit this year, to want to volunteer, to learn how to do something new. Do it!
I'm simply saying, God has and will always have a bigger agenda for us. His plans to transform our lives for the better, all we have to do is put Him first! What could be a better thing to look forward to in 2014?
I hope that you have made spiritual resolutions for 2014, because those are the one that will count. What better change to make than a change that will positively impact The kingdom? If you haven't made a spiritual resolution, it's not too late!
What's yours?
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